Excavating apparatus



&1 15, 1925.

J. s. PATE S E XCAVATING APPARATUS filed May 18, 1922 FIE-3.1.

Patented Sept. 15, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES s. IPATES, or WASHINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

EXCAVATIN G APPARATUS.

Application filed May 18,

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, JAMES S. PArns, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Washington, in the county of Vashington and the State of Pennsylvania, have made a new and useful Inventionin Excavating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that type of excavating apparatus employing a dirigible scoop or dipper.

In some classes of excavating, such for instance, as certain coal stripping operations, it is desirable (especially if the operation occurs in a farming district) to spread the excavated material more or less evenly over the adjacent land, instead of piling it up as is now commonly done, necessitating leveling or grading of the piled material before the adjacent land can be again utilized.

An object of this invention is to provide excavating apparatus by means of which the excavated material may be projected to a considerable distance from the point of excavation and at the same time, more or less evenly distributed or spread over an extended area.

This, as well as other objects which will readily appear to those skilled in the excavating art, and particularly in coal stripping operations, I attain by means of the apparatus described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of this application, and in which Figure 1 is a more or less diagrammatic view of apparatus embodying this invention and Fig. 2 a fragmentary, sectional elevation of a portion of the same.

The apparatus chosen for illustration somewhat resembles a steam shovel of the ordinary type, comprising a platform 3 carrying a steam boiler 1, the usual engine 5. The platform is mounted for rotation upon a truck 6 of any desired type, if de sired. The boom 7 of the device is guyed by means of a cable 8 to suitable braces 9 carried by the platform.

In place of the usual form of dipper having a hinged bottom for dropping the material, I provide a dipper 10 the lower part of which by means of a tubular extension or connection 11 connects with a cylindrical steam reservoir 12. This serves also as the handle for, or is attached to the handle of, the dipper 10, and is so mounted on the boom that the dipper can be swung vertically and 1922. Serial No. 561,865.

moved longitudinally toward and from the boom as is now common. i j

A quick-acting valve, consisting of a grid 13 and a gridded slide 14; is interposed in the tubular steam connection 11 extending between the dipper and the steam reservoir. The movable valve member by means of a piston rod 15 connects with a piston 16 located within a steam cylinder 17. Steam lines 18 and 19 lead from opposite ends of the steam cylinder 17 to a valve 20 whereby the movements of the piston 16 are controlled. A steam line 21 provided with a control valve 22 supplies steam reservoir 12 with steam from the steam boiler 4.

So far as excavating material is concerned, this device will be used in the same manner as an ordinary steam shovel, but instead of dumping the material from the dipper, it is projected therefrom by the steam admitted from the steam reservoir 12.

Boiler 4 is of sufficient capacity not only to supply the engine 5 for manipulating the boom and the dipper, but the reservoir 12 in addition. the reservoir and the bottom of the dipper is of such cross sectional area that a large volume of steam may be instantly admitted to the bottom of the dipper beneath the material therein and this volume of steam in expanding, projects the material from the dipper. I have found by experience that this material consisting of dirt or dirt and rocks may be projected to a considerable distance and this more or less accurately. The action is such that the fine material is thrown farther and more or less evenly distributed over the heavier material. I have found that by changing the elevation of the dipper, the range of projection may be so varied that the material can be distributed over a large area, thus eliminating the heavy, long boom and consequent cumbersome machinery heretofore necessary for moving materials to any considerable distance.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In excavating apparatus, a dirigible dipper and fluid pressure means for blow ing, material from said dipper.

2. In excavating apparatus, a dirigible The steam conduit between dipper, and means for admitting steam to sald dipper in amounts sufficient to project the material therefrom. a r

3. In excavating apparatus provided with a swinging boom, a handled' dipper diriglbly mounted on said boom, :1 source oisteam supply, a steam reservoir connected to said dipper and to said source of steamsupply and a valve between said reservoir and said dipper.

4. In excavating apparatus provided with a swinging boom, a handled dipper dirigibly mounted on said boom, a source of steam supply, a. steam reservoir connected to said dipper and to said source of steam supply and a power-operated valve betwee said reservoir and said dipper.

5. In excavating apparatus provided with a swinging boom, 21 handled dipper dir'igibly mounted on said boom, a source of steam supply, a steam reservoir connected to said dipper and to said source of steam supply and a steam-operated valve between said reservoir and said dipper.

6. In excavating apparatus having a swinging boom mounted on a rotatable platform, a steam reservoir dirigibly mounted onsaid boom, a dipper carried by said reservoir and a steam connection between said reservoir and the bottom of said dipper and a valve between said reservoir and said dipper.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 4 day of May,

' JAMES s. BATES; 

